I. Before Dawn
Before the break of day, with the heavy mist still lingering, Shen Qingyuan sat cross-legged atop the "Platform of Return" outside the main building of the Tower of Secrets. His fingertips trembled slightly, and his breathing was unstable.He was practicing the Breath Returning Art taught by Bai Jingyi—a secret technique of the Tower, designed not for combat but to steady the mind and purify the soul, gathering qi back to its source to resist external intrusions."Inhale, draw into the dantian; exhale, disperse across the four directions."Standing at his side, Luo Xue's voice was cold yet gentle, a stark contrast to her fierce and ruthless demeanor from the day before."Your meridians are innately chaotic, caused by the remnant energy of the Severed Soul Blade. With diligent practice of this art, you can stabilize the blade's aura.""Blade's aura?" Shen Qingyuan opened his eyes, puzzled."The fragment of the broken blade sealed within your life palace leaks its aura constantly. If left unchecked, it will erode your mind. If you cannot master it, you will be devoured by it."After a moment of silence, Shen Qingyuan asked, "Can I remove it?"Luo Xue shook her head. "Unless the three fragments are reunited, separation is impossible."Shen Qingyuan exhaled softly, gazing at the dim horizon, where the first light of dawn struggled to break through.He knew that from this day forward, the trajectory of his fate would never return to what it once was.
II. Turmoil Across the Martial World
At dawn, within the main hall of the Tower of Secrets, Bai Jingyi summoned all the tower's leaders to discuss the method for reforging the Severed Soul Blade.The elder Gui Chenzi proposed, "To reforge the blade, we must use the 'Three Nether Bonefires' as a catalyst and 'Hundred Demon Blacksteel' as the base. These materials can only be found in the 'Ghost Market.'""Ghost Market?" It was Shen Qingyuan's first time hearing the name.Luo Xue explained, "The Ghost Market is the most secretive place in the martial world. It opens at the third watch of the night, trading in lost martial arts, forbidden poisons, assassins, blood-bound slaves—even lives."Bai Jingyi continued, "If we are to uncover the secrets of the Severed Soul Blade, we must start with the Ghost Market's master, Yan Jiuyou.""Yan Jiuyou…" Shen Qingyuan murmured the name, and the air around him seemed to chill."He is a former traitor of the Shadow Sect, now the ruler of the Ghost Market. If you go, you must exercise extreme caution."Shen Qingyuan's voice was firm. "I must go."Bai Jingyi looked at him for a long time, then nodded slowly. "You are no longer the little boy hiding behind the medicine shop."
III. Before Setting Out
Before departure, Bai Jingyi entrusted Shen Qingyuan with an item:A black metal token, engraved with a single character—"Hidden.""This is the 'Hidden Token,' a secret pass set up by the Tower of Secrets twenty years ago. Possessing it grants you the right to summon one of the 'Thirteen Hidden Guards.' It can save your life once."Shen Qingyuan accepted the token solemnly and tucked it carefully into his robe."You will travel with Luo Xue. Your first destination is 'Broken Tide City.' The Ghost Market entrance opens once a year, every April, beneath the 'Weeping Gods' Abyss.' You have seven days.""Will seven days be enough?" Shen Qingyuan asked.Luo Xue sneered, "If you move too slowly, not even your life will be enough."Shen Qingyuan gave a wry smile. "I'll try to keep up."The two mounted the flying eagles of the Tower, soaring through the clouds toward the central plains' grandest city—Broken Tide City.Meanwhile, a shadow silently slipped away from the Tower's western wing, vanishing into the deep valleys below.The figure, cloaked in black robes and masked with silver, moved like a ghost—clearly a pursuer.
IV. Storms in Broken Tide City
Broken Tide City sat at the crossroads of five provinces, bustling with merchants and martial artists—a hub of the entire martial world.Before nightfall, the city's major escort agencies, martial halls, and guilds were already stirring with activity.Shen Qingyuan and Luo Xue entered the city under false names and took lodging at a small inn in the southern district.That night, while Luo Xue went to scout the entrance to the Weeping Gods' Abyss, Shen Qingyuan stayed alone in his room.Suddenly, he heard a rustling outside the window. Turning sharply, he saw a paper slip pasted on the pane:"If you wish to know the secret of the Severed Soul, come to the lone graves in the southern outskirts at midnight. —An Old Friend."Holding the slip, Shen Qingyuan pondered: who could it be? Was it a trap, a test, or a lure?After a moment's thought, he decided—he would go.
V. Shadows Among the Graves
At midnight, under a starless sky, Shen Qingyuan arrived at the lone graves in the southern outskirts, cloaked in dark attire.A shadow awaited him there, face hidden by a bamboo hat, a short flute in hand."Who are you?" Shen Qingyuan asked cautiously."I was once a subordinate of your father, codename 'Ink Flute,'" the man said in a low voice. "I participated in the forging of the Severed Soul Blade.""Why seek me now?""To warn you. Stop digging into this matter.""Why?""The more you uncover, the faster you die."Shen Qingyuan's gaze hardened. "Then why meet me at all tonight?""To repay a life debt to your father," Ink Flute whispered. "In three days, the Ghost Market will send the 'Soul Hooker' to assassinate you outside the Weeping Gods' Abyss. If you go, you'll be walking into death.""Is there a way to counter it?"After a pause, Ink Flute pulled out a worn scroll from his robe."This is the 'Soul Breath Record' left by your father, detailing the origins of the Severed Soul Blade. If you truly choose to walk this path, this may be your only guide."Without another word, Ink Flute vanished into the darkness.Shen Qingyuan stared at the scroll, his heart heavy.He realized—this was only the beginning of his true journey.
VI. First Descent into the Abyss
Three days later, at the entrance to the Weeping Gods' Abyss, west of Broken Tide City.Once a battlefield, now a colossal pit surrounded by jagged stone pillars, the place was filled with chilling winds and whispered ghost stories.Luo Xue stood atop a steep rock, holding a compass etched with secret patterns.Moments later, the ground rumbled as a giant stone slab shifted aside, revealing a pitch-black tunnel."This is the entrance to the Ghost Market?" Shen Qingyuan asked."Every April, the market opens for seven days. Those who come are either rich or ruthless," Luo Xue replied, handing him a silver mask. "No one reveals their true face here. You are a 'life buyer,' and I am a 'soul guide.' Remember your roles.""What if we're exposed?""Then you die, and I leave."Suppressing a bitter laugh, Shen Qingyuan donned the mask and followed her into the dark passageway.After descending seven hundred seventy-seven stone steps, they emerged into a vast underground city.Dim lights flickered, thousands of people bustled through the night market.Merchants wore bizarre costumes—ghost masks, demon hair, even human bones draped like cloaks—hawking everything from live souls to forbidden artifacts.Witnessing this, Shen Qingyuan's heart trembled.Here—this was the true martial world.
VII. Murder Amidst the Market
Navigating the crowded market, the pair finally stopped at a grand pavilion called the "Hall of Withered Bones."This was where Yan Jiuyou auctioned rare materials and peerless weapons.Following their plan, Shen Qingyuan, using the alias "Youyang," registered to bid for the "Three Nether Bonefires."The auction commenced, showcasing item after rare item.When the Three Nether Bonefires appeared—a black-gold flame floating in a jade box, flickering with ghostly shadows—the atmosphere grew tense.Bidders included the notorious leaders of the martial world: the Old Patriarch of the Black Nether Sect, the Hall Master of the Shadow Blade Gate, and the Blood Lady of the Bloodshade Pavilion."Ten thousand gold notes!""Fifty thousand!""One hundred thousand!"Palms sweating, Shen Qingyuan offered rare medicinal herbs like "Spirit Crane Flower" and "Heavenly Shadow Golden Dew" to outbid the others and finally secured the Bonefires.Just as he thought it was over, deadly intent struck as he stepped out of the Hall."Youyang, hand over the Three Nether Bonefires."Three masked assassins emerged from the shadows, their leader wielding a hook and chain, wearing a skeletal mask—the "Soul Hooker."Luo Xue darted forward to engage, needles flying like rain.Two killers lunged at Shen Qingyuan, forcing him to hastily channel the Breath Returning Art and unleash a burst of blade aura, narrowly escaping."Run toward Black Snow Street!" Luo Xue shouted.They fled into the maze of alleys, pursued closely.Just as the situation grew dire, a beam of azure light struck, forcing the Soul Hooker back.An old man in plain robes, hair white but eyes sharp, stepped from the shadows."You are—?" Shen Qingyuan asked."I am the Fourth of the Thirteen Hidden Guards—'Wind Keeper,'" the old man said calmly. "Bai Jingyi sent me to secretly protect you. You hold the Hidden Token—I must answer the call."The Soul Hooker growled, "Tower of Secrets—you can't protect him forever!"Wind Keeper simply smiled. "You may try."With a sweep of his sleeve, a fierce gale surged forth, tearing tiles from rooftops and forcing the assassins to retreat.Moments later, the Soul Hooker snarled a final warning before vanishing into the night.
VIII. Awakening the Blade's Soul
That night, Shen Qingyuan studied the Soul Breath Record again and learned that the Severed Soul Blade possessed three arts: "Soul Devouring," "Blade Concealment," and "Questioning the Shadow."The "Questioning the Shadow" technique could summon and tame the blade's aura.Following its method, Shen Qingyuan sat in meditation.Suddenly, he felt the blade's aura stir within him, and a wisp of ghostly light rose from his life palace to his brow.In his vision, a scene appeared:In a sea of blood, a lone figure stood, blade in hand, face obscured but stance unyielding.Raising the blade toward the heavens, the weapon reflected hundreds of faces—some weeping, some raging, some pleading, some despairing."This blade questions souls, not people. Dare you inherit it?" the figure asked.Shen Qingyuan opened his eyes, his back soaked in cold sweat.He whispered, "I don't know if I can, but I will walk this path to the end."As his words fell, the blade's aura calmed and settled deep within him.On the final page of the Soul Breath Record, new words appeared:"The first fragment of the blade's soul has recognized its master."
IX. Return to the Tower of Secrets
On the seventh day at the Ghost Market, just before the underground passages were sealed, Shen Qingyuan and Luo Xue safely emerged from the Weeping Spirit Cavern.They had obtained the Three Nether Bonefires and the Soul Breath Record; the Severed Soul Blade had begun its initial awakening.The Tower of Secrets was now within sight. As the clustered peaks of Mount Song came into view once more, Shen Qingyuan felt that his state of mind had already changed.At Guiyuan Platform, Bai Jingyi personally received them. Upon hearing their report, she said only one thing:"The fact that you have returned alive is a victory greater than a hundred battles in the martial world."Shen Qingyuan gave a bitter smile. "Surviving is harder than it sounds."Luo Xue spoke coolly from the side: "You will soon find that—the hardest part is yet to come."Bai Jingyi was silent for a moment, then said,"The Three Nether Bonefires are in hand. As for the second fragment of the Severed Soul Blade, according to what I have gathered, it may be hidden in the 'Valley of Red Leaves.'""Valley of Red Leaves?" Shen Qingyuan asked."It lies in the lands of Western Sichuan, a place of endless cliffs and gorges. The valley's master, the 'Red Leaf Fairy,' is a descendant of the demonic path—her movements are unpredictable, and the valley is nearly impossible to approach.""I'll go," Shen Qingyuan said without hesitation.Bai Jingyi, however, stared at him for a long while before slowly nodding."This time, you must go alone."Shen Qingyuan was stunned. "Why?""Because she... will only see one person.""Who?""Shen Zhongren."At those words, Shen Qingyuan's heart thundered. After a long silence, he asked in a low voice,"She... knew my father?"Bai Jingyi gave no answer. She merely turned and left, leaving behind a single sentence:"Before you descend the mountain, I will show you something."
End of Chapter Three